John Wayne ‘completely exhausted’ and director ‘punched me’ claimed leading lady – My Blog

John Wayne had already remade 1959’s Rio Bravo, a film about a sheriff defending his office from outlaws, in 1966’s El Dorado. Yet Howard Hawks, who directed both of those films, wanted to make it a third time in 1970’s Rio Lobo. When the filmmaker first approached Duke about the idea, the Hollywood star replied: “Do I get to play the drunk this time?”

Originally set to be shot in Durango, Mexico for $5 million, Rio Lobo – which is on ITV4 today – was filmed for an extra $1 million at Old Tucson, Arizona, since 1971’s Lawman was already shooting south of the border.